Contemporary Urban Affairs

2018, Volume 2, Number 1, pages 84– 95

A Lesson from Vernacular Architecture in Nigeria

Joyce Lodson 1, *John Emmanuel Ogbeba 2 , Ugochukwu Kenechi Elinwa 3
1 Departmentof Architecture, Federal Polytechnic Bauchi, Bauchi state
2 Department of Architecture, Eastern Mediterranean University, Famagusta, Mersin 10, Turkey
3 Department of Architecture, Cyprus International University, Famagusta, Mersin 10, Turkey

A R T I C L E I N F O: ABSTRACT
Article history: Contemporary architecture has its roots from the vernacular. Every cultural group in
Received 20 July 2017 the world has its own form of vernacular though the approach may vary from place to
Accepted 10 August 2017 place and from people to people. Vernacular architecture has many values which are
Available online 17 September
relevant to contemporary architecture today. This paper looks at vernacular
2017
architecture in Nigeria as practiced by two ethnic groups who have varying climatic,
Keywords:
Vernacular;
religious and socio-cultural practices. The approaches to architecture by these two
Architecture, groups, i.e. the Hausas and Igbos, are looked at with the intention of finding positive
Nigeria; values in the vernacular which can be applied to the contemporary. One of such values
Contemporary; as seen in this paper is the harmony of traditional building materials with nature. Local
Values. building materials are able to meet housing needs without having detrimental effect on
the environment. More emphasis should therefore be given to local building materials
in the building industry today. The paper concludes by stating that for contemporary
architecture to adequately meet the needs of man today, vernacular values which apply
to the cultural and climatic needs of such places should be selected and imbibed.
CONTEMPORARY URBAN AFFAIRS (2018) 2(1), 84-95. Doi: 10.25034/ijcua.2018.3664

www.ijcua.com
Copyright © 2017 Contemporary Urban Affairs. All rights reserved

1. Introduction the vernacular. These local societies were able to

bring a sense of communality and ethical
The Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape
representation into their buildings and
Architecture, (2000), describes vernacular
settlements.
architecture as “unpretentious, simple,
In his book, ‘Vernacular Accommodations:
indigenous, traditional structures made of local
Wordplay in Contemporary Architecture Theory,’
materials and following well-tried forms and
Andrews (2012) introduces the reader to a world
types.” Man has always sought to provide shelter
of vernacular that reflects living traditions and
for himself through the use of local materials and
ethical approaches to creativity, a form of
techniques in ways best suited to meet his own
architecture that is original, reflects peasant
individual, socio-cultural needs and also fit into
lifestyles and shows an integration of the building
the existing climatic conditions.
in the life of the community as a whole while
Too often, vernacular architecture has been
addressing local conditions of climate. This paper
portrayed as something that is local, primitive,
intends to search for such values of the
unattractive and unworthy of being preserved.
vernacular in Nigerian traditional architecture
This perception seeks to give the vernacular a
with the aim of drawing lessons from it which can
reflection of negativism and underdevelopment.
then be incorporated in Nigeria’s present
Yet despite this bleak portrayal of the vernacular,
contemporary architecture.
one only has to take a closer look at the way the
traditional builders used local materials and *Corresponding Author:
techniques to display technological Department of Architecture, Eastern Mediterranean University,
sophistication and ingenuity in their structures to Famagusta, Mersin 10, Turkey
E-mail address: john.ogbeba@emu.edu.tr
develop a sense of respect and admiration for
 JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY URBAN AFFAIRS, 2(1), 84-95 / 2018
Nigeria is a vast country with a rich diversity. This
diversity is seen in various dimensions such as:
ethnic group representations, climatic
conditions, religious affiliations, cultural beliefs
and practices and art forms. Because of the
vastness of its diversity, approaches to
architecture also vary. Different ethnic groups in
Nigeria approach architecture in different ways
in an attempt to address local conditions and
needs. To better understand and appreciate
vernacular architecture in Nigeria, this paper is
considering architectural approaches of two
ethnic groups under varying climatic conditions,
religions and socio-cultural practices.
The paper has a number of objectives. To review
vernacular residential architecture in Nigeria as
practiced by two cultural groups, i.e. the Hausas
and the Igbos, so as to better appreciate their
approaches to architecture. To determine the
values that might have influenced their local
architectures. The paper intends to compare
vernacular and contemporary architecture in
Nigeria, and to find positive values embedded in
Nigerian vernacular architecture which might be
appropriated in contemporary Nigerian
architecture.
2. Nigeria
The Federal republic of Nigeria is located in West
Africa and lies between latitudes 4° and 14ºN,
and longitudes 2º and 15ºE. (Figs. 1&2)
Figure 1. Map of Africa Showing Nigeria in Red. (Source:
www.google.com)
Joyce Lodson , John Emmanuel Ogbeba , Ugochukwu Kenechi Elinwa
Figure 2. Map of Nigeria Showing 36 States and the FCT Abuja,
Source: www.google.com
With a current population of over 180,000 million
people, Nigeria is the most populated country in
Africa. Of the over 250 ethnic groups in the
country, the three largest are the Hausas,
located in the northern part of the country, the
Yorubas, in the south western part of the country
and the Igbos, found in the south-eastern part of
Nigeria. (Figure 3)
Figure 3. Map of Nigeria Showing the Broad Distribution of
Major Ethnic Groups6.
Source: www.google.com
British colonial rule began in Nigeria from the 19th
century when the Northern and Southern
Protectorates of the country were merged
together to form a single entity called Nigeria. This
was done in 1914 by the British. Nigeria eventually
gained its Independence from the United
Kingdom on 1st October 1960.
Nigeria is a multi-religious country made up of two
predominant religions, i.e. Christianity and Islam.
The population is divided roughly in half between
these two major religions.
Basically, Nigeria’s climate can be classified into
two. The northern part of the country, where the
Hausas predominate, is characterized by hot, dry
climate and extremes of temperature between
day and night. Rainfall is minimal and often less
than 500mm per year. The southern part of the
country, where the Igbos are found, is mostly hot
and humid and has a high annual rainfall of
between 1,500 to 2,000 mm a year.
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3. Methodology
The main aim of carrying out a research is to add
to existing knowledge in a particular area of
study. This can be achieved through investigating
new dimensions of any field of study. Through the
process of carrying out a research, problems are
defined and redefined, hypotheses and theories
are formulated, new approaches are
developed, solutions are suggested and
conclusions drawn. This process also involves the
use of strategic and systematic methodology in
pursuit of knowledge so as to arrive a logical
solution and develop a problem solving theory
Rajasekar et’el (2006).
This study employs the exploratory research tool
for collecting its data from existing publications
on the Research. Information will be sought from
journals, reports and books on related topics.
Personal knowledge about the study area will
also be applied.
4. CASE STUDIES: HAUSA, IGBO
4.1 Hausa
4.1.1 Hausa People
The Hausas are one of the major ethnic groups in
West Africa and are among the three largest in
Nigeria(Arenibafo, 2016). They can also be found
in significant numbers in Niger Republic. They all
speak the Hausa language which is the most
widely spoken language in West Africa.
Long distance trading has long been practiced
by the Hausas. They also engage in other
occupational practices such as: farming, animal
herding, and practice of crafts such as dyeing,
thatching, leather working, weaving and silver
smiting. The Hausas predominantly follow the
Islamic religion. Its influence is significant and
permeates almost every aspect of their life and
culture such as their dressing, social interactions
and even architecture. Agboola and Zango
(2014) state that the Trans-Sahara Trade coupled
with the new religion of Islam had the most
enormous impact on the settlement pattern and
local building practices of Hausa land. Some of
the effects can be seen reflected in the façades
of their buildings as a number of the designs
employed were borrowed from other parts of the
Islamic world.
4.1.2 Typical Hausa Vernacular Architecture
Hausa vernacular architecture is greatly
influenced by socio-cultural practices, religion,
climate and available material. Culture and
social practices have affected the layout
patterns of both settlements as well as family
Joyce Lodson , John Emmanuel Ogbeba , Ugochukwu Kenechi Elinwa
compounds. Within the settlement, there are
three important focal points. These are the
mosque, emir’s palace (chief’s palace) and
market. The emir’s palace acts as the seat of
administration of the community while the market
draws people from within and around the
community once a week for trade and social
interactions. Family compounds are built around
these three focal points.
Within the family setting, the extended family
system is an important cultural practice. It is not
uncommon for members of an extended family
to live together in one large homestead which is
sub-divided into units, each unit belonging to a
married male member of the family. Family
compounds can be quite large in size depending
on the number of wives and children a man has
and in the case of the Hausas, four wives are
allowed according to the Islamic religion. Building
units are added within a compound as the need
arises or as the family size increases. So also, the
reverse is the case. The size of the compound
may diminish as children move away from home
to settle elsewhere or as huts fall into disrepair.
Social relationships within the community are
important to the Hausas and provision for this is
made in the compound by the introduction of an
entrance or reception hut called a zaure (Figure
4). This is a multi-functional entrance lobby which
is used by the family head for relaxation,
entertaining visitors, practicing crafts, etc. Open
spaces are also provided in front of family
homesteads and serve as relaxation spots for the
family head and his visitors and where he often
sits to share meals with neighbors (Figure 5),
Figure 4i. Plan of a Hausa compound. Source: google.com
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Figure 4ii. Plan of a Hausa compound. Source: Muhammad
Oumar, 1997
Figure 5. Outdoor Space for Relaxation (Moughtin, 1964).
Religion plays an important role in Hausa
architecture. The Islamic religion which is
practiced by most Hausas in northern Nigeria
encourages seclusion of women and separation
of the two genders. For this reason, a zaure or
male reception area was introduced into the
plan of Hausa buildings. It acts as a foyer and sets
limits beyond which strangers and males outside
of the family unit cannot exceed. Women stay
within the inner compound which is veiled from
view. Privacy is further encouraged by the
absence of windows on exterior walls
Joyce Lodson , John Emmanuel Ogbeba , Ugochukwu Kenechi Elinwa
The effects of climate are addressed in Hausa
buildings. Northern Nigeria, where the Hausa
people can be found, falls within the Sahel
savannah. This area is characterized by hot dry
climatic conditions with extremes of temperature
between day and night. Traditional Hausa houses
are built to accommodate these climatic
conditions. Openings are small and few in
number so as to keep out dust and as much as
the sun’s heat and glare as possible. The walls are
made of adobe mud which is a good thermal
regulator, helping to regulate extremes of
temperature between day and night thus
keeping interiors cool during the hot daytime and
warm during the cold nights. Flat mud roofs are
employed on the rectilinear walls. They act as
good thermal insulators and are ideal in an area
which is prone to fire outbreak due to dry
weather conditions. The flat roofs are also suited
to the limited amount of rainfall experienced
within the year (Figure 5).
Various building materials are used in Hausa
building construction. Moughtin (1964) names
them as earth, timber, reeds, grasses, and stones.
Dry straw when mixed with mud is used to make
adobe bricks of great strength which is used for
the wall construction. A local waterproofing
plaster is made from a mixture of mud and either
ash additives or liquid from locust bean pods.
Building forms are either round or rectilinear in
shape.
Roofing is of two types depending on the shape
of the building. Round huts are roofed with
conical thatched roofs made from cornstalks and
grass. Rectilinear buildings usually have flat mud
roofing. These are made from timber from the
palm tree (azara) which is very strong and insect
resistant. The timber pieces are laid across each
other in a herringbone fashion after which both
sides are plastered with mud. A special water
proofing plaster is applied to the roof.
Ingenuity is seen in the construction of interior
arches (Figure 6). Moughtin, (1964), describes the
arches as: A series of cantilevered lengths of
azara (a fibrous palm tree which is free from
attack by white ants) built into the mud arch to
form the main reinforcement while additional
azaras are used to counteract shear and to
distribute the thrust of the arch into the walls
Creative façade designs are important elements
in Hausa architecture. According to Adamu,
(2005), decoration in Hausa traditional
architecture can be categorized into three
groups namely, surface design, calligraphy and
ornamental. The surface designs are
predominantly reliefs, engraved or carved
87
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designs and murals (Figure7&8). Decorative 5. Hausa Contemporary Architecture

elements called zanko, protrude from the roof The first impact of modernity on Hausa buildings
parapet. They are unique additions to many came with colonialism. Schwertfeger, (2014)
Hausa buildings. attributes the late 1940’s as the period when
modern building materials were introduced into
Nigeria. The import of these materials, particularly
cement, played a great role in changing the
practice of vernacular architecture in Hausa land
and Nigeria in general. Modern materials like
cement allowed people to construct longer
lasting homes. As such, adobe bricks were
gradually replaced with cement blocks which
are longer lasting and carry greater prestige in
the society. Modern roofing materials have to a
great extent also replaced mud and thatch
Figure 6. Indoor Arches.
roofing.
Modernity has also improved health conditions in
many traditional Hausa buildings. Where before,
ventilation was insufficient in the indoor rooms
because of the small and inadequate number of
windows, contemporary buildings now have
larger openings which allow for cross ventilation.
This has reduced the incidence of meningitis in
many Hausa settlements in Nigeria. Cholera and
other such diseases have also been reduced
since modern toilets were introduced, replacing
pit latrines in many homes.
The practice of gender separation and privacy
for women is still seen in many contemporary
Hausa buildings. In the plan below, the first floor
plan is reserved strictly for family members while
on the ground floor, there is complete separation
Figure 7. Emir of Zazzau. Palace in Zaria, Nigeria, built 1995– of the visitor’s space from that of the family space
Mural Facade Design thus ensuring minimum contact between non
Source:www.google.com family members and family members, particularly
women (Figure 9). Separate entrances have
been provided for the women folk so that they
can have access into and out of the house
without being seen by any male visitors. This is in
accordance with the socio-cultural and religious
lifestyle of the Hausas.

Figure 8. Relief Design on a Street Facing Façade.

Joyce Lodson , John Emmanuel Ogbeba , Ugochukwu Kenechi Elinwa 88

 JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY URBAN AFFAIRS, 2(1), 84-95 / 2018
Figure 11. Pictorial Views of Postmodern Residential Designs
Displaying Northern Cultural Symbol Popularly Known
as Arewa Symbol ( Aliyu, 2015).
Figure 9. Plan of a Contemporary Hausa Building Designed
by Zailani and Sa’ad Raji (Aliyu, 2015).
One effect of modernity on Hausa cultural
lifestyle is the gradual loss of extended family ties.
Many contemporary residential buildings are
designed solely for single family units thereby
effectively cutting out the extended family
lifestyle. Some contemporary buildings have
maintained some elements of the vernacular in
their external facades. For instance the buildings
in Figure 10 below have added pinnacles (Zanko)
at the top of the parapet roof. This is a distinctly
Hausa element and gives the building a “Hausa”
appearance.
Façade designs have gradually become less
popular than before and are not as extensively
applied as in the traditional buildings. This can be
seen in the pictures in Figure 10ii below where the
greater part of the façade has been left
unadorned with the exception of the front
entrance which has some ornamental
decoration around it, reminiscent of traditional
Hausa architecture. Also, the facade design in
the buildings in Figure 11 is not as elaborate as is
found in the traditional buildings. (Compare with
Figure 7).
Figure 10. Contemporary Hausa Architecture With the ‘Zanko’
Added at the Top Giving it a ‘Traditional’ Look Source: Aliyu,
2015
Joyce Lodson , John Emmanuel Ogbeba , Ugochukwu Kenechi Elinwa
6. Igbo People
The Igbo are also a prominent people group
found in Nigeria. They live in the south-eastern
part of the country in scattered towns and
villages and speak the common Igbo language.
Igbo people are very industrious and engage in
a wide range of commercial activities. In the rural
areas, Igbo people work mostly as craftsmen,
farmers and traders.
Prior to the coming of missionaries to Nigeria, the
Igbos predominantly practiced traditional
religion which involved belief in a vast number of
gods and goddesses. With the coming of
missionaries however, most Igbos embraced
Christianity though a small percentage still follow
the traditional religion.
The Igbos are also known for sculpturing and
carvings. Many of their doors and wooden pillars
have various designs carved into them. Uli design
is a form of body beautification, done mostly by
Igbo women. It is sometimes inscribed on facades
of buildings.
6.1 Igbo Vernacular Architecture
Igbo architecture, as practiced by the Igbos of
south eastern Nigeria, display values of
vernacular. Their buildings seek to integrate
spiritual, cultural and lifestyle values into their
architecture. Chukwu (2015), states that ‘apart
from the Igbo language which was the number
one distinguishing factor, the traditional Igbo
society was both theophorous and communal.’
He goes on to say that ‘these two traditional
indices of the Igbo society namely, the religious
and communal life traits were always expressed
and represented in the building architectural
designs of every Igbo society.’
Communality is an important aspect of Igbo
cultural life and is ingrained into the layout of the
settlement pattern. Settlements typically have
community spaces at the center, and these
spaces are the sites for public gatherings,
discussions and meetings, as well as other
community interactions
(http://africanurbanism.net/2012/03/31/tradition
89

al-igbo-design/). Festivals and displays by
masquerades are important activities in the Igbo
community and are done in these village squares
(Figure 12).
A typical family compound contains a number of
huts or building units, each having a separate
function (Figure 13, i&ii). The number of such
building units is determined by the number of
wives and children a man had. Before the advent
of Christianity into Igboland, the Igbos were
predominantly a polygamous society. A large
number of wives and children was seen as a sign
of wealth and moreover, increased the
workforce of the family, considering that farming
was the mainstay of their economy.
Figure 12 i. An Activity Taking Place in an Igbo Community
Village Square
(http://africanurbanism.net/2012/03/31/traditional-igbo-
design/
Figure 12 ii. Masquerades Permorming in a Village a square.
The compounds are surrounded with an earthen
wall having a single entrance gateway. Okoye
(2001) states that this entrance gateway
indicates the status and power of the family and
the importance of the head of the compound,
which is communicated through the elaborate
JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY URBAN AFFAIRS, 2(1), 84-95 / 2018
nature of the gate structure, and the richness of
the door leaf it probably had once framed.
As with the Hausas, the extended family system is
important in the Igbo community. Clans men
often live in a large family compound
demarcated into separate units by a common
fence. Meetings and family gatherings are
regular events. An important element called obi
is provided in the compound of the eldest male
member of the extended family for these
gatherings. Cole and Aniakor (1984) describe the
obi as ‘the male meeting house which is the
conceptual and, often, the physical centre of a
domestic Igbo architecture (Sourced by
Ikebude, 2009).
Source:
Figure 13 i. Plan of a Family Unit, Source. (Nsude, 1987)
Figure 13ii. Plan of a Family Unit, Source Nsude, 1987.
Joyce Lodson , John Emmanuel Ogbeba , Ugochukwu Kenechi Elinwa 90
 JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY URBAN AFFAIRS, 2(1), 84-95 / 2018
Figure 13iii. Plan of a Family Compound with courtyard in the
centre and Building Units Surrounding it.
Source:www.google.com.
Traditional religion as practiced by the Igbos,
involved belief in various gods and goddesses
and led to shrines being erected within the larger
community, in their honor. An example of this is
the mbari hut which is a shrine built for the deities.
Each deity had its own individual shrine (Figure
14). Within the family compound, sacred family
shrines were also erected.
Figure 14 i. Mbari house.
Joyce Lodson , John Emmanuel Ogbeba , Ugochukwu Kenechi Elinwa
Figure 14 ii. Entrance to a communal shrine.
The predominant building materials of the Igbos
were clay, grasses and bamboo. These were
used to address local weather conditions. Hot
humid conditions prevail in south-eastern Nigeria
so clay was used for building adobe walls which
sufficiently regulated temperature between the
indoors and outdoors. Nsude, (1987) states that
the warm humid climate of Igbo land and its
tropical rainfall dictate the use of steeply pitched
roofs. The roofs are thatched with palm leaf
fronds and grasses which are commonly
available in that part of the country.
The building forms are basically of two types: the
rectangular and the circular. Roof forms are also
built in accordance with the building form, thus,
rectangular buildings had hipped roofing while
circular buildings had conical roofing.
Figure 15 i. Thatching with palm leaf mats, early 20th century.
Source: Basden 1921
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Figure 15 ii. Steeply Pitched Roofs Source: Nsude, 1987.

Figure 16 i. Carved Igbo Doors.
Building of houses was usually a family and
communal affair. Members of the extended
family and community members usually joined
hands to raise structures. Walls were often
plastered with mud after construction. Nsude
(1987) talks about cow dung being used as a
plastering material. According to him, not only is
the dull greenish color more pleasing to the eye
than the natural earthen color, it also has better
water proofing qualities than ordinary mud.
The art of surface decoration is also practiced by
Igbos in their buildings. Decoration in traditional
Igbo architecture is not restricted to their
compounds and homes only but shrines, meeting
houses and club houses are also often decorated
(Nsude, 1987). He goes on to say that decoration
often involves bas-relief, insertions, color mural
painting or the use of moulded and carved
Figure 16 ii. Carved Post. Source: nairaland.com
objects. Creativity is seen in Igbo architecture in
the carvings and sculptures on doors, gateways
and pillars. In Igbo architecture, generally,
building extensions such as walls and posts, and
panels such as doors, are considered
architecture as such murals and other wall
decorations, and relief carvings on posts and
doors are all architectural processes
(Ikebude,2009) (Figure 16&17).
Figure 17. A decorated wall surface Source: howafrica.com

6.2 Igbo Contemporary Architecture

Vernacular Igbo architecture has seen several
changes due to the influence of modernity.
The wider choice of modern building materials is
one of the more obvious influences of modernity
on Igbo vernacular architecture. Longer lasting
buildings of varying sizes are now seen in
contemporary Igbo societies. Buildings are more
compact with rooms opening into one another
with a single common roof over them. The
compound is no longer in the centre but around
the building. Pitched roofs have been

Joyce Lodson , John Emmanuel Ogbeba , Ugochukwu Kenechi Elinwa 92

 JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY URBAN AFFAIRS, 2(1), 84-95 / 2018

maintained on contemporary buildings due to
the frequent rains; however modern roofing
materials are now used.
External wall facades made up of carved images
and murals are now absent from contemporary
Igbo architecture. Rather, modern paints and
wall tiles are applied. Where community
members used to join hands to raise buildings,
now paid labor is the common method of
building. Modernity has brought about a
disintegration of community and extended family
lifestyle. Buildings are designed for smaller family
units.

Table 1. Comparison between Traditional Hausa and Igbo Architecture.

Hausa Igbo
Settlement
3 important elements in the settlement: mosque, 2 important elements in the
emir’s palace, market settlement: Village square, Shrines
Compound
Privacy and gender separation highly emphasized. No gender separation. Inner
Non male members of the family cannot gain compound is open to visitors,
entrance into the inner compound. both male and female.
Building units of round or square huts having Building units of round or square
different functions are repeated throughout the huts having different functions are
compound. repeated throughout the
compound.
Building
Materials Mud, grass, cornstalks, timber Mud, grass, bamboo, raffia palms

Roofing Flat mud roofs Pitched Thatch Hip Roof

Types Conical thatched Conical Pitched Thatch Roof
Roof
Openings Small and Few Windows Small and few windows

Façade Facades are highly decorated with reliefs, murals Facades, doors, pillars and posts
and engraved decorations. are highly decorated with reliefs,
murals and carvings
Courtyards Open spaces within the compound make up the Open spaces within the
courtyard. compound make up the
courtyard.
Family Size Large due to extended family practice and Large due to extended family
influence of religion which permits up to four wives. practice and socio-economic
reasons.

Table 2. Comparison Between Contemporary Hausa And Igbo Architecture.

Hausa Igbo
Settlement No focal points. Settlements have expanded due to No focal points. Settlements have
urban growth. expanded due to urban growth.
Compound Privacy for women still emphasized. Women’s No gender separation.
quarters separated from external contact with
visitors.

Building Cement, Sandcrete blocks, burnt bricks, modern Cement, Sandcrete blocks, burnt
Materials roofing materials bricks, modern roofing materials

Roofing
Types Pitched roofs. Parapets used in many buildings Pitched roofs.
obscuring the pitched roof and giving the
appearance of a flat roof.
Openings Larger in size and variety. Larger in size and variety.
Facades Traditional façade decoration still applied in some Sculptures, wall carvings and
instances though not as frequentle as before. traditional façade designs not
Modern paints and textured finishes now common. practiced.
Modern paints and textured
finishes now common.

Joyce Lodson , John Emmanuel Ogbeba , Ugochukwu Kenechi Elinwa 93

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Courtyards Compact building plans. Courtyards surrounding Compact building plans.

the building rather than at the centre. Courtyards surrounding the
building rather than at the centre.
Family Size Still large due to allowance of four wives by Islamic Smaller due to influence of
religion. Christianity which allows only one
Extended family practice not as commonly wife and due to gradual
practiced. disintegration of extended family
practice.

7. Conclusion
Vernacular architecture has undergone a
number of changes over the years as a result of
the influence of modernity. This has led to the
emergence of contemporary approaches to
building in the Nigerian society. Values of the
vernacular however are still very relevant to our
contemporary buildings today.
For instance, vernacular architecture uses local
eco-friendly materials to address local climatic
conditions. Adobe is a good example of a
traditional building material with natural thermal
regulating qualities and no detrimental
environmental effects. Modern building materials
are not eco-friendly like the local building
materials and have caused various threats to the
natural environment. Now with the issues of
climate change and global warming, it is
becoming increasingly clear that there is a need
to revisit the use of our local building materials.
With some improvements our local materials can
function in the same capacity as the modern
materials with the added advantage of not
harming the environment.
Values of ethics, family living and cultural
practices define vernacular architecture in
Nigeria. This is absent in contemporary
architecture today. Creative means of expressing
culture should be encouraged in our
contemporary buildings. For instance, rather than
using expensive wall finishes which have no
cultural expression, simple yet attractive
traditional wall finishes can be applied in our
contemporary buildings. This will not only save
money but will also preserve our cultural heritage.
Acknowledgments
This research did not receive any specific grant
from funding agencies in the public, commercial,
or non-for-profit sectors.
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